Two ships and one train were destroyed and 320 people lost their lives in the explosion at the naval warehouse in Port Chicago on July 17, 1944. Most of the dead were black guests, who were loading weapons on board ships.
After the explosion, the white gasses received land leave, while their black fellow soldiers and colleagues resumed the work of relieving ammunition, without proper training and equipment. When they refused to continue the cargo job, the Navy launched its biggest mutiny trial ever.
When around 258 guests were court-martialed and around 50 of them convicted of mutiny, it sparked accusations of unfair treatment and racism in the military.
– The 50 – and the hundreds who supported them, may not be with us today, but their story lives on, a testimony of enduring courage and unwavering fight for justice, said Navy Commander Carlos Del Toro on the 80th anniversary of the explosion.
They stand as a beacon of hope and an eternal reminder that even when faced with overwhelming odds, justice can and will prevail.
The Navy says its lawyers have found significant legal errors in connection with the court-martial proceedings, including that the accused were denied adequate assistance.
– Today marks the end of a long and difficult journey for these black people and their families, who fought for a country that denied them equality under the law, says President Joe Biden in a statement.
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2024-07-18 16:49:34
